Cheltenham Festival News: Bob Olinger takes Turners after Galopin Des Champs falls

Tom ReedTom Reed17 March 2022
Bob Olinger set to head straight to Cheltenham

Bob Olinger set to head straight to Cheltenham

There was real drama at Cheltenham with leader Galopin Des Champs falling at the last in the Grade 1 Turners Novices' Chase handing the race to Rachael Blackmore and Bob Olinger.

Henry De Bromhead's Bob Olinger took a dramatic Turners' Novices Chase after runaway leader Galopin Des Champs fell at the final fence.

It was an ironic finish as Galopin Des Champs was considered the better jumper going into the race only to throw it away with a poor jump at the very last fence.

That left Rachael Blackmore to take the Grade 1 in a fascinating contest that ebbed and flowed with both horses making mistakes as is expected with their novice status.

5/6 Willie Mullins' favourite Galopin Des Champs brushed his hind legs through the final fence and knuckled, leaving Blackmore with a simple win on her 6/5 chance, with 50/1 shot Busselton in second and El Barra coming home third.

The race was an all-Irish affair on St Patrick's Day and it was De Bromhead taking the spoils over Emerald Isle rival Mullins.

Winning rider Blackmore was typically measured after taking victory from the jaws of defeat.

She said: "It's great to see Paul and Galopin are up and OK. It was their race to win. I don't know what to say really, it's fantastic to win, I'm delighted to win.
"I didn't get into as good a rhythm as I thought I was going to. I thought that was my fate turning in, but that's jumps racing."

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